Governor Greg Abbott, the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), and the Texas National Guard are continuing to work together to secure the border; stop the smuggling of drugs, weapons, and people into Texas; and prevent, detect, and interdict transnational criminal activity between ports of entry.
Since the launch of Operation Lone Star, the multi-agency effort has led to over 420,800 illegal immigrant apprehensions and more than 33,600 criminal arrests, with more than 30,500 felony charges reported. In the fight against fentanyl, Texas law enforcement has seized over 426 million lethal doses of fentanyl during this border mission.
Texas has also bused:
- Over 11,100 migrants to Washington, D.C. since April 2022
- Over 12,600 migrants to New York City since August 2022
- Over 5,900 migrants to Chicago since August 2022
- Over 2,400 migrants to Philadelphia since November 2022
- Over 870 migrants to Denver since May 18
- Over 360 migrants to Los Angeles since June 14
Operation Lone Star continues to fill the dangerous gaps created by the Biden Administration’s refusal to secure the border. Every individual who is apprehended or arrested and every ounce of drugs seized would have otherwise made their way into communities across Texas and the nation due to President Joe Biden’s open border policies.
RECENT HIGHLIGHTS FROM OPERATION LONE STAR:
Governors Abbott, Noem, Pillen, Reynolds, Stitt Band Together To Secure Border
Governor Abbott on Monday held a press conference in Eagle Pass with Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen, Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt, and South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem to provide an update on their joint efforts under Texas’ Operation Lone Star to respond to President Biden’s reckless open border policies. The border visit comes after Governor Abbott sent letters to America’s Governors in May requesting support for Texas’ border security mission following President Biden’s decision to end Title 42.
“These Governors here with me today are deploying military and law enforcement officers to help Texas secure the border,” said Governor Abbott. “We, as states, share an obligation and that’s to step up and address this unparalleled catastrophe caused by President Biden.”
Prior to the press conference, Governor Abbott held a border security briefing with his fellow Governors where they received updates from DPS Director Steve McCraw, Texas Adjutant General Major General Thomas Suelzer, and Texas Border Czar Mike Banks on the multitude of effective strategies used by Operation Lone Star to secure the border, including Texas’ floating marine barriers installed in the Rio Grande River.
As of this week, 14 states—Arkansas, Florida, Iowa, Idaho, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming—have stepped up to support Texas’ efforts and deployed personnel and resources to secure the border in President Biden’s absence.
Texas Border Czar Banks: Marine Barriers Effectively Deter Illegal Migrant Crossings
Texas Border Czar Banks this week explained how Texas’ floating marine barriers are safely deterring dangerous and illegal river crossings. As President Biden’s open border policies continue to sow chaos along the southern border, there have been no illegal crossing attempts at these barriers in the Rio Grande River.
“The buoys work, and they prevent migrants from making the dangerous crossing and putting themselves at risk,” said Border Czar Banks.
Watch Border Czar Banks’ explanation here.
GOOD JOB GOVERNOR REYNOLDS!!!!!!